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Morocco’s national reserve team secured a historic 2025 FIFA Arab Cup title in Qatar last week, defeating Jordan 3-2 in a gripping final at the Lusail Stadium. The hero of the night was veteran striker Abderrazak Hamedallah, who came off the bench to score a dramatic 88th-minute equalizer before netting a 100th-minute winner in extra time. His performance cemented his legacy as one of the most clinical finishers in the region, sending thousands of Moroccan fans into a frenzy.
However, the post-match celebrations were quickly overshadowed by Hamedallah’s shady comments during a televised interview. Holding his trophy and standing up from his bus seat, the striker seemingly took a direct aim at first-team coach Walid Erregragui, who had famously sidelined him from recent major call-ups. In a statement widely interpreted as “throwing shade” at the national team management, he called out: “Show me what you can do and bring back a cup like this one,” challenging the senior squad to match the reserve team’s success at AFCON 2025, which commenced last night.
The tension between the Al-Shabab forward and Erregragui has been a long-standing subplot in Moroccan football. While Regragui led the Atlas Lions to a historic semi-final in the 2022 Qatar world cup, his recent tactical choices and the exclusion of certain veteran “lions” have drawn criticism from some quarters. Hamedallah’s verbal jab suggests a deepening rift, as the striker used the Arab Cup victory to prove he still possesses the “hunger” and quality that he feels the senior side currently lacks.
Despite the controversy, Hamdallah expressed his underlying love for the Moroccan shirt, stating that his return to the national fold — even for the reserve squad — was driven by patriotism. He emphasized that the country is “hungrier for trophies than any other team” and hoped the momentum from this win would carry over to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Nevertheless, his “show me” comment has set social media ablaze, with fans divided between supporting the “Executioner” and defending the integrity of Regragui’s leadership.
